The Division of Research’s support for MU researchers and scholars includes events such as Accelerate Your Research Week (featured with image of woman talking during lecture) and the Columbia Young Scientists Expo (pictured with children examining butterflies).

 

The Division of Research’s support for MU researchers and scholars includes the broader impacts reach of The Connector, which contains Professional Development, and the comprehensive and wraparound assistance of the Strategic Proposal Development Service (SPDS). Throughout 2023, these teams worked with hundreds of MU faculty and staff to increase the quantity and quality of proposals. Here are some highlights.

THE CONNECTOR: SPURRING AND SHARING DISCOVERIES 

The Connector team provides programming, resources and professional development to help researchers increase their skills and productivity, show how their work benefits society and engage the public. The team hosted the first Accelerate Your Research Week, attended by more than 175 MU researchers and scholars. The week offered 20 workshops and panels, including one-on-one consultations and presentations led by 10 federal funding agency program officers, to help MU researchers and scholars charge their endeavors and develop the quality of their proposals and submissions. 

The Connector’s community engagement included: 

  • 803 people attended 12 Extra Credit films with researcher panel discussions.
  • 600+ participated in the Columbia Young Scientist Expo.
  • 65 explored fossils at Mizzou Rocks day camp.  

The Professional Development team hosted seminars, workshops and programs to address every step of the research roadmap, including finding funding, mentoring and proposal development.

  • 153 people received one-on-one consultations (working with The Connector).
  • 143 people participated in programs that provided sustained support and training. 
  • 175+ attended Accelerate Your Research Week. 
  • 413 attended 11 how-to workshops.

SPDS: ELEVATING FUNDING SUCCESS 

SPDS, which supports large, complex and strategically important grant proposals in coordination with units and departments, provides researchers with a wide range of assistance, including grant proposal management, narrative development, editing, budgeting and illustrations.

In 2023, SPDS’s work included:

  • 91 proposals submitted to federal sponsors, including DOD, DOE, EPA, NIH, NSF and USDA.
  • $105 million awarded as of Dec. 31, 2023.